Lower Hutt

News

Three new podocarp forests in the Hutt Valley

WaiuThe opportunity to grow podocarp forests on flat valley floors is rare but that is what we can do. Waiu wetland would have been cloaked in podocarps. During October, 400 kahikatea were planted in the wet places in Waiu. Tracks now need to be cut through gorse and flax to allow planting of the other podocarps – rimu, miro, matai, and totara in suitable areas in the valley. We have ordered 100 of each species. We won’t notice much difference for some years but then podocarps will poke their heads above the gorse and make their presence known.

Manor Park Golf CourseSimilar to Waiu but in the main Hutt Valley and a smaller area, this is another opportunity to create a valley bottom podocarp forest. 200 kahikatea have been planted. Removal of weeds is proceeding.

MawaihakonaThis stream is in Upper Hutt but we are associated with Friends of Mawaihakona in planting this 1.2km long 40-metre wide podocarp forest. Willows have been poisoned. 1200 trees have been planted. We are indebted to St Patricks College for agreeing to allow the planting that has been done this year.

Eco-corridor Project

Our ecological corridor project is our grand conservation plan for the Wellington region. We are connecting the dots of native bush as well as the regional parks to create ecological corridors for native birds and creatures. One will be close to where you live.